“There are a couple of things that really excite me about the upcoming Money-Making Websites training,” Nick told me recently.

“First, it’s always great to share what I know with a new group of people, and watch them create their own websites.

“Second, I can’t wait for the new people to meet the members who have already taken the training, and are active on our member group site. New members will find themselves getting a huge amount of support from hundreds of people who have already created their own sites.

“The How to Write Your Own Money-Making Websites program … PLUS live training … PLUS group site community support is a magical combination!”

So to recap, here’s what Nick is offering you …

The opportunity to create your own money-making website in a group setting … in just 7 weeks … with a set schedule, deadlines, and all the support you need from Nick and your fellow group members.

Plus, when you’re website is ready … we’re going to help you get traffic! Here’s how …

AWAI Members taking the program can have their website featured on the AWAI website, to get a little “link love” from AWAI. And that means more free traffic for you!

We’re working fast and furious to get all of the new websites posted. But check out the Showcase in the meantime to see some of the Money-Making Websites your fellow members have already created … thanks to Nick Usborne’s comprehensive, step-by-step program.

And, remember, these folks aren’t “techies” in the least. They’re people just like you who have taken an interest … a hobby … or a passion and turned it into a living, growing … and money-making … website of their own.

Tomorrow’s the deadline to get in on Nick's next training series, which starts September 13 th.

Exciting news regarding one of our most popular programs! We’ve just finished a complete overhaul of Freelance Writing Success in a Box. If you already own the program, you get full access to the new and improved version – Freelance Writing Business Success – at no additional cost. It’s one of AWAI’s Living Programs, which means you get every update and addition free, for life! Just go to your myAWAI page to get started.

And if you don’t yet own it, I highly recommend it … especially right now while you can grab your copy for only $69.

Freelance Writing Business Success gives you everything you need to know to run a successful freelance business – from basic administration-related things like how to choose the right legal status for your business right through to how to develop a plan to make sure your services are always in big demand.

It’s packed with ways to save time, increase your productivity, and become the profitable copywriter you want to be – sooner rather than later!

And it’s not just for print and Web copywriters. Whether you write sales copy or specialize in technical, grant, resume writing, etc. – if you plan to do it on a freelance basis, you’ll need to know how to set up and run a small business, how to get clients, and so on.

Great lesson for all freelancers …
“I almost passed out when I heard a man’s voice saying that he didn’t have time to read my contract but he was satisfied since I had been recommended by one of his friends,” writes newly trained AWAI Internet Researcher Jim Criscoe.

Here’s a bit of his story …

A poor economy, rising inflation, and an unusually slow work year had Jim, a first-responder insurance adjuster by day, looking for something else to do.

The idea of being an Internet Researcher appealed to him when he heard about it from us. He ordered the program and devoured it in less than a week.

To get some practice, he offered to help a friend who was working on a book. He told his friend that he wouldn’t charge him, but would appreciate a recommendation if he liked what Jim did for him.”

Within days of finishing the job, Jim’s friend called and said that he had referred Jim to another author who had an urgent need for some “rush work.”

“So,” says Jim, “I spent half the night and most of the next day doing research for several chapters in his book … at $50/hour!”

The story gets better …

Jim’s friend recommended him to yet another author … who just happens to be a well-known name in business book publishing circles.

“Of the 16 chapters in his book,” says Jim, “I’ve been assigned to research Chapters 8 through 16 per his listed criteria.”

So one “mention” to a friend has led to two paying gigs for Jim in just a few weeks.

“This is all happening very quickly,” he says. “But I’m excited to be enjoying my work and learning about things that I would never have read about on my own. I feel wound tighter than the E string on an East Laplander’s mandolin!”

This shows just how easy it is to get started as an Internet Researcher. But there’s something else I hope you get from Jim’s story – and this is true if you’re a copywriter … resume writer … researcher … or any type of freelancer. And that’s the power of letting friends, family … everyone you come in contact with … know you’re “open for business.” That you can help them … and their friends too. It’s one of the best … and most effective … ways to launch your career.

It’s not too late … even though yesterday was the first of three bonus webinars exclusively for members taking the Internet Research Specialist: How to Surf the Web for Freedom and Profit program … you can still get “all the goods.”

If you missed yesterday’s session … or would like to review it again since Sandy, Roy and I covered so much … you have anytime access at your myAWAI page.

Next week’s topic: Where to find all the clients you can handle

And then the following week: How to approach clients … and get them to approach you

Put a deadline on your offer. Example: “To get Product X, you must reply by Sept. 1, 2010. After that, it’s too late.”

Offer a quick-response bonus – an extra free gift if they reply within the next 10 days. Example: “Act now and you will receive a FREE bonus – an exclusive interview with Katherine Harris.”

Add a time element. Example: “How to Make $100,000 Working at Home This Year” is stronger than “How to Make $100,000 Working at Home.”

“I’m especially excited about this year’s FastTrack to Copywriting Success Bootcamp and Job Fair,” Bob told me recently. “Three of the greatest copywriters living today will be presenters – Michael Masterson, Ted Nicholas, and Bill Bonner. I know them all. I ALWAYS learn something new from Michael. And, the one time I heard Ted speak, he was terrific. This will be the first time seeing Bill speak about copywriting … I’m expecting to be VERY impressed.”

I include Bob on that list of great copywriters presenting this year too. And, you can meet them all … Michael, Ted, Bill, Bob and more at the only copywriting event of its kind. Immerse yourself in the world of copywriting for 3 days this November. Take your career to the next level. It starts by registering today. Click here to save $200.

Job Opportunities
49 jobs have been added to DirectResponseJobs.com so far this month. Here are four that were added this week:

Media Boost is seeking a Content Editor/Researcher with the skills to write and edit Web content, including catalogs, text ads, informational sections, and descriptions of products.

If you can help build the social media brand of a cruise company, you’re the perfect candidate for this job. You’ll monitor conversations on review sites and social networks and encourage conversations about the company’s brand. You will be the virtual face of the company, providing the personal touch that helps build loyalty.

A TV company needs a freelance copywriter to assist with website, collateral materials, proposals, and taglines.

A premium leather and accessories company is looking for an experienced, work-from-home copywriter for varied projects. You’ll be working with both the retail and wholesale aspects of the company’s brand. Experience with apparel and accessories is beneficial.

One of the benefits of The Writer’s Life is the flexibility. It allows you to do what you want, when you want. No more rigid, daily “9-to-5” schedule or boss telling you when you can take a break or a vacation.

However, many successful copywriters have found a connection between a well-established routine and productivity. William Faulkner once said, “I only write when I am inspired. Fortunately, I am inspired at 9 o’clock every morning.” And James Joyce couldn’t start writing until he’d smoked half a pack of cigarettes (not necessarily recommended).

Your strategy may be to get a jumpstart on the day by rising early. Maybe your day job requires you to be a copywriting night owl. Your routine may involve your favorite beverage or getting situated in the perfect spot before the creativity starts to flow.

Tell me about your daily writing routine, and what makes it work for you. Include anything that makes it unique or quirky or inspiring.

A faster, more entertaining way to sort through your friends’ Facebook posts and tweets.
Flipboard is a “revolutionary” (as Ashton Kutcher recently called it) social magazine that pulls in articles, photos, and other social media information from your friends and converts it into a cleanly formatted virtual magazine for the iPad, customized to your interests (tech, world news, entertainment, etc.). It’s already number 19 on Apple’s list of most-downloaded free apps.

Since Flipboard puts the relevant links and images right in the magazine, so you don’t have to scan post after post or click on link after link. You instantly see all the stories, comments, and images, making it faster and more entertaining to discover, view, and share social content.

As more and more iPad users get the Flipboard app, a lot of the content you send out to Facebook friends and Twitter followers will end up on their Flipboards. If you use social media for business purposes, it’s one more way your messages will get absorbed.

It’s great practice for writing compelling content. Knowing that your Facebook posts and tweets may end up in magazine format, you may put a bit more thought into them. It’s not copywriting per se, but it is regular writing practice.

The Internet link suggestions you send out will more likely be opened by Flipboard users. If you’re a copywriter who promotes your business via Facebook or Twitter, linking to valuable content will help position you as not just a copywriter but a trusted resource and partner.

Perfect timing for self-publishers? The traditional bookselling business is being turned on its head.

Barnes and Noble just announced it is putting itself up for sale – a result of declining store traffic and profits.

In the prime superstore years of the 1990s, Barnes and Noble threatened the existence of many smaller, independent bookstores. (Remember Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail”?)

Now it’s the big bookstores’ turn to worry. The threat? E-books.

In one year, e-book sales have gone from 2.9% of trade book sales to 8.5%, according to the Association of American Publishers, driven in part by the success of Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle. Carolyn Reidy, CEO of Simon & Schuster, predicts that e-books could be responsible for 40% of the company’s revenues within three to five years.

If the book business parallels the music business, it could be in for a radical transformation. When the music business went digital a few years ago, record stores shut down and big record labels no longer had total control.

In 2007, Justin Vernon independently released Bon Iver’s debut album, recorded by Vernon himself on very basic recording equipment while the band was holed up in a cabin in northern Wisconsin. Through word-of-mouth and the blogosphere, Vernon bypassed the normal record label route, and went on to land a spot on NPR’s 50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade list.

Similarly, writers who self-publish (books or information products) now have huge opportunities that didn’t exist a few years ago. All it takes is following a few simple steps.

Gary Scott has been living life on his terms as a self-publisher since 1974. He tells you how to do the same inSelf-Publishing: Your Complete Business Plan for Creating a Life Without Borders. Join the new wave of publishershere.

Looking for a hot “niche”? Unfortunately, as with “hot” stock tips, once a copywriting niche becomes known as hot, it’s usually too late. That’s to say, it’s already filled with hungry competitors.

During Monday’s Wealthy Web Writer exclusive webinar, Find the Niche That’s Right For You, Nick Usborne will share his approach that focuses on looking for the GAP … the high-profit areas other freelancers haven’t found yet.

And that’s not all. There is more to finding the right niche than simply identifying a gap with profit potential. You also have to make sure the niche meets some other criteria:

Do companies within that niche pay freelancers good fees?

Is it easy to find your prospects and market your services to them?

If you started work in that niche, would you enjoy yourself? Would you get up in the morning with a smile on your face?

During the webinar, Nick will go through the entire process in detail, and help you find your niche.

As with all Wealthy Web Writer events that take place each week, this $79 teleconference is FREE for Platinum Members. Get all the details here.

Members helping members …

ATTN MAC users … here’s help with opening PDF files. Recently, we’ve heard from some new MAC users who were having difficulty opening PDF files. We asked some long-time MAC people for their advice.

Here’s the solution:

“If you double-click on the file – it will most likely open in ‘Preview’ mode (which seems to be a MAC default setting), so you won’t see everything. You need to click Command/Enter and select the ‘Save target as’ or ‘Save link as’ option to save the PDF to your desktop. Then open Adobe Acrobat and open the file … and Voila!”

From AWAI member Rick Guffey: “Mark Twain once said … ‘Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.’”

“Some days, you sit down with a blank screen before you and the right words just fall right onto the page,” says Rick. “They come easily … you’re on a roll. And soon, you sit back, satisfied with the great job you’ve done.

“You might’ve created a masterpiece. But when you start to over-think your writing, you begin hitting obstacles. You stress over each word, the concept gets muddy, and thoughts refuse to flow. Nothing feels right, and you may feel self-conscious.

“When this happens to me, I step back. It’s always easier to go back into a project after letting it sit for a while than it is to delve into it when you’re stressed and unable to function properly.”

Elizabeth C. says that our programs have made a big difference in her life. She recently got into a very bad accident. She found that our programs not only kept her mind busy, but also gave her hope!

And Ann, from Written Words, asked us to let you know how valuable she’s found Pam Foster’sSite Audits Made Simple:

“The Site Audits program and checklists have been invaluable for site audits, site rebuilding and updating, and total new site builds for various clients. The strategic audit brief is particularly useful, and can be adapted as needed. I appreciate your generosity in making these resources so available. Thank you so very much for simplifying and making it so straightforward – I don’t know what I’d do without it!”

Have a question you’d like answered or some helpful advice you’d like to share with your fellow AWAI members? Send Barb Hume a note atbarbhume@awaionline.com.

Don’t forget … tomorrow is the deadline to join Nick’s next Money-Making Website Training program. Natalia and Gail recommend it strongly!Click here to be a part of it.

“Nick’s program gave me the confidence to continue with the project, and made the idea of making money online by sharing my hobby a real possibility,” writes Natalia Norman. “It provided more than simple instructions to take me from concept to the launch of my website and blog.”

Natalia’s site, http://www.theelectronicshobbyist.com, is a collection of resources aimed at helping beginner electronics enthusiasts enjoy their new hobby. It features step-by-step instructions on building and programming interesting microcontroller projects.

“The structure that this training provided was a real key for me in actually getting my site up and growing,” says Gail Schiesser. It simplified each step so I didn’t get discouraged by the huge number of possibilities … but just kept moving toward my goal.”

Gail’s site, http://www.SeedBeadSmarts.com, is the place for people who want to make art with seed beads and for admirers of bead art. The website covers the basics, including bead weaving techniques and strategies for learning to make bead art. It also provides free lessons and free beading projects.

I’ll leave you with a final thought from Walt Disney:

“Somehow I can’t believe there are many heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true.”

JustDisney.com describes how Disney pursued his dream: “Walt joined the Red Cross and was sent overseas to France, where he spent a year driving an ambulance and chauffeuring Red Cross officials. His ambulance was covered from stem to stern, not with stock camouflage, but with Disney cartoons.

“Once Walt returned from France, he began to pursue a career in commercial art. He started a small company called Laugh-O-Grams, which eventually fell bankrupt. With his suitcase, and twenty dollars, Walt headed to Hollywood to start anew.”

And the rest, as they say, is history …

What heights will you scale today? What dreams will you make come true?

Have a great week. And … Keep Writing!

Here’s what’s happening at AWAI the week of August 23-27, 2010 …

Topic:

Picking a Niche

During this webinar, Nick Usborne will walk you through a detailed process to help you confidently find a niche that’s right for you.

Participants:

WWW members only

Date:

Monday, Aug. 23, 2010

Time:

3:00PM (ET)

Topic:

Secrets of Becoming an Internet Research Specialist – Part 2:

Where to Find All the Clients You Can Handle

In this webinar, we’ll take a look at the key strategies for breaking into the Internet Research field, including:

How to find top marketers in need of your research services

The top industries that need research now – and how to pick yours

Other sources of research clients – more writers that need your services than you realize …

Participants:

Internet Research Specialist members only

Date:

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010

Time:

12:00PM (ET)

Topic:

Accelerated Program Live Companion Series – Session 2:

Power Writing & More

In this series, Katie and Rebecca walk you through the specific elements of a successful sales letter. Today’s topic: Secrets to writing powerful headlines and compelling leads – intimacy, benefits, and loving your prospect. DID I GET THIS RIGHT?

Participants:

Companion Series members only

Date:

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010

Time:

3:00PM (ET)

Note: Access information about all our events can be found on the AWAI Google Calendar:www.awai.com/calendar

As Executive Director of AWAI, Katie Yeakle has been helping people live the writer’s life since 1997.

“AWAI is built on a big promise … that we can teach you a new skill that can lead to increased income … independence from the 9-to-5 grind … and the freedom to live and work where you choose.

“All of us at AWAI stand behind that promise. In fact, that’s how we measure our success – by how many people we help reinvent their lives.

“Follow our proven advice, and you can be among the many successes we’re so proud of.”